Daily Readings - Thu Sep 05 2024
1 Corinthians
18Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.19For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness,"20and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile."21So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours,22whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are yours,23and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
Luke
1On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret,2and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.3Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.4And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."5And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets."6And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.7They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.8But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord."9For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken,10and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men."11And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of true wisdom and the call to follow God’s plan with humility and trust. In the first reading from 1 Corinthians, St. Paul reminds us that the wisdom of this world is fleeting and often foolish in God’s eyes. He warns against putting our trust in human leaders or earthly wisdom, for all things belong to God, and we belong to Christ. This passage calls us to reevaluate our priorities and recognize that true wisdom comes from God alone.
In the Gospel, Luke recounts the story of Jesus calling Simon Peter and his companions to become His disciples. After a night of unsuccessful fishing, Jesus instructs Simon to cast his nets into the deep water, despite his doubts. When Simon obeys, he is overwhelmed by the abundance of fish, which becomes a moment of profound conversion for him. This story highlights the importance of trusting in God’s providence, even when it seems illogical or difficult. Just as Simon had to let go of his own understanding and rely on Jesus, we too are called to step out in faith, even when the path ahead is uncertain.
These readings remind us that true wisdom and success come not from our own efforts or understanding but from surrendering to God’s will. In our daily lives, we often face situations where we must choose between relying on our own strength or trusting in God’s plan. Like Simon Peter, we may feel unworthy or inadequate, but God calls us anyway. Let us embrace humility, let go of our need to control, and follow Jesus with courage and faith. For when we do, we open ourselves to the abundant life He promises, a life that goes far beyond our own limited expectations.